Parnell is Auckland’s premier suburb and also its oldest. Commanding an impressive position on an elevated ground looking over the city and the charming port, Parnell is known for its scenic ocean vistas and its religious institutions. Home to several Church of England establishments, its core charities, the Diocesan Library and the residence of the Bishop, the picturesque hamlet is also home to a number of breathtaking churches of historic significance.

These include a number of Presbyterian and Wesleyan churches, St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Chapel and of course the neo-gothic wonder that is St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral. Reputed as the first church to have been built in the city of Parnell, the wooden structure is also renowned as one of the largest of its kind in the globe. Beautifully executed according to the design of B.W Mountfort, the church has a decidedly neo-gothic air about its form and architecture. Built in 1863, the church dominates its landscapes even today due to its iconic bell chimes and imposing facade. Having been relocated from its position on the other side of the road, St. Mary’s was moved to its current position next to the Selwyn Court and the New Holy Trinity Cathedral in 1982.

Devoted to St. Mary, this ancient religious institution has stood the test of time, remaining a focal point of the town’s many attractions and its community’s consciousness. With Venerable Archdeacon Kissling serving as its first incumbent, the church went through extensive renovations which included enlargements of its already monumental size under the care of its later incumbent Venerable Archdeacon Maunsell. Nearly 159 feet in length with a 32 foot broad nave, the church is approximately 48 feet in height from floor to summit. Complete with captivating screens and a pulpit contributed by Parnell resident M. J. Gay the two aisles within the church are 12.5 feet each.

Great New Ideas for Patio Furniture – Getting Creative with Your Outdoor Furniture

Patio furniture used to be just plastic lawn chairs and matching plastic tables but it has evolved since then. There is new outdoor furniture technology available and there are many new styles and materials to choose from, when planning what kind of patio furniture would suit you and your house. There are many types of outdoor furniture available, no matter what your budget is. Your personal taste needs to be taken into consideration, as does how often the patio furniture will be used and what kind of climate you live in. You need to think about how the outdoor furniture will be used, whether it is going to be used for dining, around a swimming pool or just a comfortable place to sit, relax and enjoy the sun. If you can choose something that looks good and matches your décor and surroundings, your friends and family will love visiting you and relaxing in your new outdoor garden furniture.

You could get, for example, a little bistro patio table or a larger one that can extend. It depends how many people live in the house but it is nice to have extra seating and tables in case you decide to have a party or some kind of outdoor celebration. Dining al fresco can be a lot of fun, whether the food is prepared on a barbecue or indoors then brought out. You can get a patio umbrella or awning for hot days where you want to enjoy being outside but do not want to burn in the sun. Or you could position the outdoor furniture so it is in the sun for most of the day and you can sit and relax and enjoy it. When you have the best patio furniture set you can find, something that looks great outside, you will definitely want to spend more time outside enjoying it.

Choosing the Right Style of Deck Patio Furniture

It is lovely to have a nice set of patio furniture available whenever you want to enjoy the outdoors. Many people work stressful jobs and have busy lives and coming home to enjoy nature and relaxing is something that is very important to encourage balance in our lives. Most people do not relax enough. You can choose from a comfortable patio furniture chair surrounded by pretty plants and scented foliage or a swing chair or rocker if you want to rock yourself into a better frame of mind while watching the world go by. You can mix and match both styles and even plan a water feature such as a outdoor fountain, to help set the tranquil mood. Outdoor fans and outdoor heating are both available to ensure you are comfortable even if the weather is a little too hot or a little too cool.There is no point in buying uncomfortable patio furniture just because it is cheap. It is well worth spending a little more to get the quality and comfort so important in outdoor garden furniture. If you are thinking of spending lots of time on the patio furniture, you will want something that looks good, matches your décor and is comfortable to sit in for hours. You should research exactly what you want, whether that is wrought iron or wood teak patio furniture, as your goal is ultimate relaxation and comfort.

How to Plan Your Outdoor Furniture

There are plenty of reasons to make sure you have the best patio furniture available to you. The right outdoor furniture will blend with your lifestyle and give you comfort and luxury. If you love your choice of outdoor garden furniture, you will want to use it more frequently. If the weather is beautiful and you only have uncomfortable patio furniture or none at all, you are going to waste all that lovely sunshine rather than be out there enjoying it. You can create your own personal space to relax in, using whatever patio furniture you like, perhaps a patio table and four chairs. Maybe a patio umbrella would finish off the effect and some plump cushions. Chaise lounges and patio rockers can add a quirky or stylish element to the finished design, depending on style and coordination. The patio furniture made today is created especially to be durable and look great for years to come.

Choosing patio furniture can be a little overwhelming because there are several material types and hundreds or possibly thousands of styles made from those materials. The type of materials that you choose should depend on your personal preference but also on the climate where you live, whether your patio is covered or uncovered, your budget and several other factors.

By keeping in mind your priorities and carefully thinking things through, selecting the right patio furniture be straightforward and easy. When you are choosing new furniture the first thing that you need to do is pick a type of material. The most common materials are wood, wicker and rattan, metal, and plastic.

Wood

Wooden patio furniture is very popular and lasting. In general, wooden patio furniture can stand up to the elements like very hot sun or summer storms pretty well. However, if you decide to use wooden patio furniture you should treat it with a water resistant coating to protect it from drying out in the sun or becoming damaged from being out in the rain. It is a good choice if you do a lot of entertaining because it’s very strong and rigid, thus can accommodate people of all different sizes. It’s also simple to change the look of wooden patio furniture with just a new coat of paint in the color of your choice. Good quality wooden patio furniture can be expensive but if you carry out regular maintenance of painting or protective coating on the wood every few years, the furniture will inevitably last for a long time.

Wicker and Rattan

If you like to change the decor of your patio frequently and don’t want to have to buy new furniture every time then wicker & rattan patio furniture would be a good and decent choice for you. Wicker and rattan is the second most popular type of furniture that is made from natural materials. Both wicker and rattan furniture is durable, light weight and to a certain extent – flexible, making it great for patio furniture that needs to be brought indoors or moved frequently. Wicker is actually not a material by itself. Wicker is the end result of weaving rattan with other materials, usually bamboo slats, to make furniture.

Rattan (originated from a Malay word – Rotan) is technically a tree, although it grows like a vine along the ground. They are usually found in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australia. The rattan vines are cut and peeled, then steamed to make them pliable, and then they are used as rattan weaving materials. Rattan furniture can be made of stripes of Rattan that are woven together when the wood is wet. It can also be strips of Bamboo or other materials woven around straight rattan slats. Rattan easily accepts paints and stains like many other kinds of wood, so it is available in many colors and it can be worked into many styles.

Both rattan and wicker furniture is a less expensive alternative to hardwood, if you want to have furniture that is made from natural sources. These types of patio furniture don’t require a lot of maintenance and can be used in or outdoors all year long. It’s also possible to change the outlook of Wicker or Rattan furniture by giving the furniture a new coat of color. So, if you’re inclined to change the decor of your patio frequently without buying new patio furniture every time, then wicker or rattan furniture would be the best choice for you.

Metal

Metal patio furniture is often a more economical choice compared to hard wood type especially for people who want the stability of wood but wouldn’t want to spend too much. Metal furniture is also great for people that want furniture that has low maintenance costs because most metal furniture doesn’t require the kind of maintenance that wooden furniture does. There are three main types of metal patio furniture that you can purchase. They are wrought iron, aluminum and tubular metal.

Wrought iron is probably one of the most expensive types in the range. Wrought iron furniture is incredibly popular because it’s stylish and adds a very classic feel to a patio but it’s also popular because of its durability. Wrought iron furniture is heavy and requires little upkeep. For instance, just a simple new coat of paint every year or so will keep wrought iron furniture looking beautiful for years. Furthermore, wrought iron patio furniture is sturdy so that it can be comfortable and safe for people of all sizes. It is also heavy which is good in that it won’t be blown away in strong winds but not to a point that it is too difficult to move.

Aluminum is often used commercially because it’s so easy to maintain, light-weight and tough. Hotels, public pools, restaurants, resorts, and other types of businesses that deal with the public often use aluminum patio furniture for their outdoor patios. Aluminum is a very much lighter metal than wrought iron so if you will frequently need to move your furniture, aluminum may be a better choice. Most if not all outdoor bars and bistros will quite definitely choose aluminum furniture because of its weight & maintenance cost. Aluminum furniture can be a bit pricey for some people but the cost is negligible over time as aluminum patio furniture will last for a long time.

Tubular metal patio furniture is the least expensive type and easily found at discount stores. It has some of the durability that other types of metal patio furniture have although it is not as strong as aluminum or wrought iron. Tubular metal doesn’t require a lot of maintenance and can lasts for a long time. It can though become bent and damaged and can never quite be bent back into its original shape. It is also light enough to easily be blown away in strong winds.

Plastic or PVC Patio Furniture

Plastic or PVC patio furniture is the cheapest option and can be easily found at discount/bargain stores. Stackable Plastic or PVC patio furniture can be found at any discount store, sometimes even at the grocery store. They are easy to maintain because all you need to do for cleaning is simply to wipe the dirt off. It stands up well to any natural elements except strong winds and usually will only last for one season.

They are not very sturdy and can break easily. There is a high possibility it becomes a safety issue if you have little children using it frequently because it tends to tip over or break. They also tends to crack and splinter very easily, which is dangerous even to adults. If you are looking for some cheap, quick patio furniture then plastic is the best choice but don’t expect them to last.